Seizure
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Kentucky
Seizure
Well, I guess it was bound to happen to a motorhead like myself eventually: My Taurus's engine seized up last night. 
Yes, it had oil in it, though it was (I admit) past time to change it.
For the record, the engine in question is in a 2002 Taurus, and it is the DOHC 3.0. The car has 148,000 plus miles on it.
The seizure occured just after I passed some guy disgracing the Ford name by only going 30mph in a 55 zone. The transmission didn't upshift correctly (Hinting at MORE trouble!), and when it finally did, it didn't sound right. Shortly after that, my oil light came on, I began to lose power (and began looking for a place to pull off), then the little dash light that looks like a gear with an exclamation point in it came on, something began to clatter, and the engine died. All this happened in the space of about 30 seconds.
After stopping the car and thereby blocking a gate to one of Central Kentucky's many horse farms, I turned it off then tried to start it. The engine refused to budge.
Since getting it home I tried a few more times to see if it would turn over, and this morning I succeeded. Of course, it turns slowly and I heard an expensive-sounding squeak about once a revolution. 
So, the question is: What gave out? I have had no trouble with oil pressure in this car, ever, though I have noticed the oil sender has been annoyingly insensitive since we bought the car new. The seizure occurred very quickly (less than 30 seconds after the tranny did its weird little act) and without warning. Am I going to have to pull that engine and tear it down in my driveway in the cold? (I have the tools but no useable garage.) Will it help to squirt a little oil or kerosene on top of the pistons, like you would when reviving an engine that has sat a long time?
Even though this isn't a Ford truck, I figure at least one of y'all has had this happen before, or you've seen it happen. Like I said, it's the first time for me, and I've been terrorizing America's highways since 1975.
Yes, it had oil in it, though it was (I admit) past time to change it.For the record, the engine in question is in a 2002 Taurus, and it is the DOHC 3.0. The car has 148,000 plus miles on it.
The seizure occured just after I passed some guy disgracing the Ford name by only going 30mph in a 55 zone. The transmission didn't upshift correctly (Hinting at MORE trouble!), and when it finally did, it didn't sound right. Shortly after that, my oil light came on, I began to lose power (and began looking for a place to pull off), then the little dash light that looks like a gear with an exclamation point in it came on, something began to clatter, and the engine died. All this happened in the space of about 30 seconds.
After stopping the car and thereby blocking a gate to one of Central Kentucky's many horse farms, I turned it off then tried to start it. The engine refused to budge.
Since getting it home I tried a few more times to see if it would turn over, and this morning I succeeded. Of course, it turns slowly and I heard an expensive-sounding squeak about once a revolution. So, the question is: What gave out? I have had no trouble with oil pressure in this car, ever, though I have noticed the oil sender has been annoyingly insensitive since we bought the car new. The seizure occurred very quickly (less than 30 seconds after the tranny did its weird little act) and without warning. Am I going to have to pull that engine and tear it down in my driveway in the cold? (I have the tools but no useable garage.) Will it help to squirt a little oil or kerosene on top of the pistons, like you would when reviving an engine that has sat a long time?
Even though this isn't a Ford truck, I figure at least one of y'all has had this happen before, or you've seen it happen. Like I said, it's the first time for me, and I've been terrorizing America's highways since 1975.
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